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Pro bike: Lance Armstrong’s Trek Top Fuel 9.8

The new Top Fuel still sticks to a single-pivot axle path for the rear wheel but virtually everything else has been changed from last year.

  • Though Armstrong's Top Fuel looks nothing like his old Madone, it ended up a winner at the end of the day nonetheless.
  • Lance Armstrong got back to his winning ways at the 12 Hours of Snowmass aboard this Trek Top Fuel.
  • The BB90 integrated bottom bracket's road bike width can yield a narrower pedal stance depending on the crankset used. Armstrong went with a standard XTR unit though plus some spacers to make up the missing 5mm.
  • What else would you expect? Armstrong took his sips out of a 'Mellow Johnny's' bottle to help plug his new bike shop while a Trek Bat Cage holds on tight.
  • A Shimano XTR crankset is fitted as well.
  • The new one-piece EVO Link works to keep everything tied together out back.
  • A RockShox SID World Cup handled suspension duties up front.
  • Avid's Juicy Ultimate hydraulic disc brakes were used front and rear, along with an Avid 160mm stainless steel front rotor and Stan's NoTubes coated aluminum 140mm rear rotor.
  • The front end of Armstrong's machine bore a fairly standard setup.
  • Armstrong's bike was fitted with Bontrager Jones XR Team Issue tyres and Race X Lite wheels both front…
  • Armstrong used a fast-rolling Schwalbe Racing Ralph later on in the day.
  • The Full Floater design uses dynamic upper and lower shock mounts for a more finely tuned suspension rate.
  • Lance Armstrong got back to his winning ways at the 12 Hours of Snowmass aboard this Trek Top Fuel.
  • Trek's Top Fuel platform got a thorough makeover for the '09 model year.
  • ODI's Rogue Lock-On grips offer a slightly bigger diameter than most.
  • Armstrong and teammates Len Zanni and Max Taam flew the Livestrong banner for the day.
  • According to Armstrong's post-race comments, we're going to see a lot more of him at races worldwide.
  • Just a coincidence that Armstrong ended up with the #7 number plate? Ha, not quite. According to race organizer Nat Ross, numbers one through ten were reserved for
  • Out on course, Armstrong's bike was more commonly fitted with ZTR Race wheels and a Raven rear tyre from Stan's NoTubes plus a mix of Schwalbe rubber up front.
  • Armstrong clearly still has strong ties to Shimano though, as seen in this XTR rear derailleur.
  • The new Top Fuel still sticks to a single-pivot axle path for the rear wheel but virtually everything else has been changed from last year.
  • Armstrong went with DT Swiss' ultralight carbon-bodied rear shock for his race machine.
  • Armstrong's bike was fitted with Bontrager Jones XR Team Issue tyres and Race X Lite wheels both front…
  • The Stan's NoTubes Raven rear tire was decently wide at 2.2
  • Armstrong famously prefers Selle San Marco Concor Light saddles on the road, but used a Bontrager InForm RL on his mountain bike.
  • Timing chips were supposed to be strapped to the rider's non-driveside ankle but Armstrong apparently preferred to attach his here.
  • Sorry, there's no support car here! A spare tube and CO2 canister are on hand in case of a puncture.
  • Armstrong's bike was cleaned and tuned after each lap.

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The new Top Fuel still sticks to a single-pivot axle path for the rear wheel but virtually everything else has been changed from last year.

© James Huang